The College Fear Factor : An Interview with Rebecca Cox

Editor’s Note: This edition of UPDATE revolves around the phenomenon of bridge programs, that are designed to help students transition into postsecondary education and employment. The issue begins with thought-provoking insights on student success from Dr. Rebecca Cox. Dr. Cox draws her comments from her new book, The College Fear Factor. Following this article, Jason Taylor positions bridge programs in the educational literature and highlights the variation in bridge program design and offerings. To elaborate on the implementation and design of bridge programs, three programs are described from the perspective of local practitioners. These three programs represent a variation in bridge program design, purpose, and targeted student populations. The final article is a summary of results from a recent survey conducted by Jason Taylor and Tim Harmon of OCCRL on bridge instruction in Illinois. Results of the survey are intended to help educators design bridge programs that result in their students transitioning successfully into college and employment. We are grateful to the many authors who contributed to this edition, and we hope readers will find the content valuable.